Connecticut western news., 1887-07-06

servation and the dates are unlmpeacn- able, don't mind s,ying ten dollars
 ..If you were to say twenty cried Mrs. Bliss, rcddening little.
 But just here Benny battered into the room.
 ''Mother," he whispered, very audibly, "old MT. Jennings is in the kitchen, and he says he called to see about the money you owe him."
 The crimson had fl ,oded Mrs. Bliss whole face TOW; she shrank back from Bcnny's words.
 "And he says" went on the urchi1, unconscious!y mcrcilcss, .its the third time he's called"
 Mrs. Bliss looked piteously at the fine lady in the lilac muslin and the flutt>r- ing ribbon-bows, then at the family Bible. Mrs. Scvicr felt magnetically that Q crises had arrived and was vaguely agitating the atmosphere.
 ''Say fftecn," she spoke up, with a wheedling air.
 Mrs. Bliss took the family Bible from its resting place on crochet mat under the gilt looking glass.
 ''Take it," she said, hurricdly. Benny shall carry it home for you if- if you can make it convenient to let me have the money at once."
 Mrs. Scvier drew out her purple-plush purse without loss of time,. and placed three bills in Mrs. Blis,' hands, -- 4.
 ''So much obliged to youl' sho; mur- mure,, with the sweet smile which her dccriers were apt to compare tc a per pctual flow of New Orleans mo!asess.
 And she went on her way with BenuY trudging behind with the family B,ble wrapped in brown paper and tied with a piece of blue twine.
 II feel exactly as if I'd sold one ol the children" said the pocr woman, wringing her hands, after MT. Jennings had been paid his bill, had written out a receipt and was gone. But what was I to do7 owed old Jennings the money for last years coal till, anl the interest on the mortgage was due last week, and there is the grcccr's account, and-oh, dear, dear! After all, the fifteen dollars was only drop in the bucket, and don't know what on earth am to dol'
 And the tears dropped fast into the wash-tub as she rubbed out Bcnny's calico shirt waist with tho card inal- colored horse-shoes on the white ground, which he ohfy wore on Sundays and high holidays.
 She went into the best-room when the washing was done and tho c!othe. wero fluttering on the line. and looked with shudder at the vacant place under the gilt looking glass.
 "How could I-how could IT. sht cried aloud. 'T might have known i would take all luck out of the house tt sell Grandfather Bliss old family B.blc
 And she sat down under the lilacs oI the doorstep and began to weep softly with the corner of her apron for a pock et-handkerchief.
 'AIrs. Bliss --Betsey! Why, what the matter7 Is there any ono sick o deadr
 Mrs. Bliss dashed away the tears. 
 ''No," she faltered, as her eyes me the inquiring gaze of Walter Whcelock tho village lawyer-''on.y the famil, Bible has gone."
 "Thc family Biblel Has some on stolen it7'
 ''No; I've sold tito Mrs. sevier, a the hotcl.'
 ''Humph!' Mr. Wheelock knitted hi dark brows until they made level shaggy line above his eyes. "What wa that for7'
 ''For money" hashc out Mrs. Bliss Eff you must know it, Walter Wheeloc flor fifteen dollars to pay old Jen nings the balance on our last years cos billl And if you've come 10 get the ir tcrest on the mortgage to-day, l may , we'll tell you, first as last, that hain got the money nor o prospect of gcttin it; and so you may as we'll foreclose, an done with it. If and tho two childre bavc got to go to the poor housc-Bu after all." she. added, with sudde tide of hopcfulness, ''thcre ain't T danger of that, so long as I have tw hands to work with, thank the Lord
 Don't talk nonsense, Betsey!' sai Mir. Wheelock, rather curtly.
 'But if could only get the famil Bible back again." cried Mrs. Bliss, hy terically. "Oh, I'd give anything to Il ono who would lring the old fami Bible back to mer
 "Anythin-, ch7" sai1 Wheclock.
 ''Yes, anything!' said Mrs. Bliss, rocl ing herself back and forth on the doc stone. 'It would bring good luck wit it-oh, know it would! was such fool ever to let 1t go."
 "Well, VIC won't say anything abo, this interest money to-day" said Vince ock, with his hands in his pocket 'Pcrhaps some other time."
 "All times arc the same to me-" sa the little widow, rccklcssly. "Fort,
 five dollars, isn't it9 Well, Pm n likely either to find gold mine or stril an oil-well between this and some oth day."
 And she fell to tearing off tho dus , drowned lilac leaves, with a. hand tn trembled with nervous agitation.